Lakewood Rec Dept.

[Justine Cooper]

I know we all hear a lot of grumblings sometimes but often don't post the positives. We are coaching 9 and 10 year old baseball players this season because there was no one else to do it. It started off quite stressful as it became apparent that some teams handpicked their teams and had played together and we were thrown together with one practice before season due to the rain. Needless to say we started off getting crushed and it was really difficult to rally the team when we felt like the Bad News Bears (without the kid on the motorcycle and cigarette to bail us out).

I called the rec and talked to the director and he was very helpful with setting up practice times for us and a practice with the Lakewood HIgh coach. The team has really pulled together and gotten better and we had three wins in a row which was huge to them and really lifted our spirits. There are a few kids who never miss a game and love the sport so much and this league means a lot to them. We had to forfeit yesterday since only 5 showed up but played a scrimmage against the other team using a couple of their players and the kids had a lot of fun. We were at the field overlooking the lake and with the breeze it just felt like the most perfect setting and I felt so blessed to have a field overlooking the lake like a picture. All the coaches (dads and moms) have been so dedicated and nice in this league and I just wanted to say something positive about it and it is turning out to be the best part of my summer.

[Diane Brinich]

The rec department is also a wonderful source of employment for many of Lakewood's teens!

[Justine Cooper]

The one thing I wll say I wish was different with these leagues is I wish there were parent mandatory meetings prior to the start. This is a team sport and it does become a bit more competitive as the kids get older. For some kids they never miss and it means everything to them just to play. But some show up when they want, missing practices and games and then not knowing how to play basic baseball rules. Some are dropped off and have serious discipline issues and every coach out there is obviously volunteering and should not have to discipline children constantly while trying to coach baseball. I wish there was a remedy for that but I think mandatory parent meetings with the kids prior to season could make a difference.